BRIEF DESCRIPTION
The Boxer is medium-sized and is classified as a companion, protection
and working dog. Colours are fawn and brindle, with or without
white markings.

Boxers are active, athletic and can be quite boisterous.
They are excellent family dogs and very affectionate and patient
with children. They are naturally clean, normally easy to housetrain
and the short sleek coat requires minimal care and grooming.

GETTING A BOXER PUPPY
Before deciding to acquire a puppy, obtain the KUSA information
leaflets on purchasing a puppy and on responsible dog ownership.
These and other informative brochures are available on the KUSA
website (www.kusa.co.za)
under the heading "OUTREACH", or from P O Box 2659 Cape
Town 8000.

If you are quite sure that the Boxer is the
breed for you, contact the Secretary of the KUSA Boxer Club in
your area (see contact details below). The club will be able to
assist you with the names of registered breeders and any other
information you may require.

Make an appointment to visit the breeder(s) and
meet their dogs. Don't hesitate to ask the questions listed in
the KUSA leaflet. Responsible Boxer breeders breed only from sound,
healthy stock with steady temperament. When viewing a puppy you
are interested in, please discuss any concerns you may have about
disposition, health, congenital or genetic defects with the breeder.

WHY GET A KUSA-REGISTERED BOXER?
KUSA is a full member of the Federation Cynolgique Internationale
(FCI) and has reciprocal agreements with all other major dog organisations
e.g. the American Kennel Club, the Australian National Kennel
Club, The Kennel Club London (British Kennel Club), the Canadian
Kennel Club and the New Zealand Kennel Club.

Our registrations are therefore accepted worldwide.

KUSA judges are recognized internationally. Our Boxer specialist
judges are often invited to judge all over the world.

In turn our dogs are regularly assessed by judges invited
here from all corners of the globe.

Our breeders frequently import Boxers to enhance
and extend the genetic base of the Boxer in this country. KUSA-registered
puppies representing top English, European, Australian and American
bloodlines can therefore be obtained.

TRAINING AND ACTIVITIES
Like all dogs developed for working, Boxers require lots of exercise,
interaction and mental stimulation. They therefore do best when
part of the family - if left alone in the backyard for long periods
of time, they become lonely and bored and may amuse themselves
by digging, barking, playing with the washing or jumping the fence.

All Boxer puppies should be taken to puppy socialisation
classes with a reputable trainer. The puppy classes should be
followed by at least some basic obedience training. Training methods
should be based on motivation and positive reinforcement, not
on compulsion and punishment.

For the more competitively minded, there are
more than 400 KUSA licensed events held annually throughout the
country in which you could enter your Boxer to earn internationally
recognized qualifications, including:

Agility

This is an exciting, fast moving sport where the dog
has to negotiate a course consisting of a number of obstacles,
such as tunnels, long and clear jumps, a see-saw, an A-frame
and weaving poles.

Aptitude Tests

A test of the innate qualities of a dog, such as response
to visual and audio stimuli (e.g. gun shot) and various
tests of fear and courage.

Breed Assessments and Breed Surveys

A physical examination of a dog in relation to the Breed
Standard and an examination to determine the quality of
character and temperament of a dog. The Assessor compiles
a report on a prescribed form for each dog entered.

Breed Working Tests

A test in tracking, obedience and defence work for breeds
classified as protection and working dogs.

Canine Good Citizen Tests

Emphasis is placed on responsible dog ownership and
the ability of the owner to handle, care for and ensure
that the dog is socially acceptable. Tests include standing
for examination, walking on a loose lead, reaction to
strange dogs and people and lying down and staying on
command.

Carting

Dogs have to perform a number of exercises while harnessed
to a cart, to demonstrate their usefulness as a draft
animal.

Conformation (Breed Shows)

A competition where dogs are evaluated against the Breed
Standard in both stance and movement.
In an All Breed Show the Best of Breed winner competes
against the winners of the other breeds in the Group (e.g.
Working, Terriers, Gundogs, etc.) and the Group winners
then compete for Best in Show.
In a Specialist Show dogs of only one breed compete against
each other.

Flyball and Agility

Flyball is a fast, exciting team relay race where the
dog runs a course, catches a ball and returns it to its
handler. Flagility is a combination of Flyball and Agility

Obedience

Competitive obedience requires a close bond between handler
and dog and a high level of accuracy in the execution of
the exercises, which include heelwork on and off lead, staying,
retrieving of articles and scent discrimination, depending
on the level of the competition.

In all working trials the handler-and-dog teams compete
at increasing levels of difficulty and each trial includes
a specific range of exercises such as obedience, jumping,
nosework and protection work, where the dog has to apprehend
and restrain an assailant.